I think the texture for this planet is ages old and i had the planet pasted in a canvas for quite some time too (maybe 2 years or something) but really didn't know what to make of it. So as inspiration randomly hits me i revisit old files and uncompleted pictures, which is actually the way quite a lot of my illustrations come into being. So I added the nebula and general lighting and style to this one last week and feel it can now stand for itself.

I actually wanted to post a different one here first before i put this up, but i think it still needs more work so there you go.

The universe is filled with perhaps a few orders of magnetude more stars than are grains of sand on every beach desert, sandboxy, vollyball court and similar sediment put in for good measure. Our entire solar system with more than half the planets being larger than the Earth and at least one or two hundred moons is around one of those stars, a star that is several hundred times larger than all of those put together. The universe is so vast we have trouble even seeing the nearest stars yet in their innumeral glory this is the univer so far known.

Not bad considering its an old texture. Even I have a few brushes or textures I made years ago that still prove useful today...good way to save time I guess, otherwise by the time you did a ne wplanet texture you could have been over this peice already

Simplicity is all well and good, but if the composition is off its alot more noticeable. I guess the easiest way to rectify the composition here would be to start rotating the nebula and work back into it; maybe make it look as if it is floating off of the planet. Afterall the neb atm has a nice gaseous feel to it.

you're speaking of integrating the nebula in the flow of movement. but i find the elements have to be seperated from each other in this. i'm not sure why though.

however i see that if done the way you pointed out it may be a somewhat more "spectacular" set-up. is it just that or is the composition lagging elsewhere? i think it's a question of contrapositioning the elements or letting them flow into each other. i think both can work, but are just different approaches.

My issue with the composition is that due to the nebula and planet's relationship to each other, it appears as if two different subjects have been frankenstein'd together, robbing the work of what could be, as you say, a more 'spectacular' set-up.

ah yes, but thinking of the millions of miles between the two subjects they would be alien to each other. I won't claim that this was what i was aiming for, but it conveis a sense of distance and i did want the two to stand for themselves. you'll notice the nebula is placed in the middle of that space that isn't occupied by the planet. it's somewhat about something visible, that can't be reached or truely experienced until you go there. but you can't. is this getting to pseudo-poetic? stop me any time.

I understand but it sounds a bit like a weak justification. If it wasn't what you were aiming for then i'm not sure its relevant. I reckon there must be a way to convey they separation and distance between the two subjects in a more compositionally pleasing manner.

Distance is everything when it comes to space. When objects are not millions but trillions of miles apart it comes down to some simple truths. The First being there are some weird visions in space. I personally think this picture is pretty spot on when it comes to space images. Who is to say in the infinite universe there isn't such a view... a lone solar system (dead or alive) just the right amount of light years away. On the other hand This image does not have the "Grandiose" of two planets crashing into each other while a space ship burns a whole in the sun... as unrealistic as it may be its kinda cool when done proper and maybe bending some truth here and there can be a good thing for space art.

The Final Though Real space images [link] - [link] - [link] from "NASA" show just how space is.. I haven't seen to many artists on DA make pictures like this.. The ones that do get ignored, AND THIS IS REAL! So yeah the truth is stranger than fiction And fiction can sometimes bring flavor. Both of you are great artists that have a wonderful passion for the universe (why else would I watch you guys) Just remember we must promote understanding about the concepts we love so much to the third party watching.